[Oslo Redux] Gaza-Egypt Border Remains Open Despite Israeli Demands

2005-09-14

[IMRA: It remains to be seen if reality with be permitted to interfere with Mr. Sharon victory UN photo-op.

Question: is it possible that the mantra of all the retreat supporting academics, diplomats, brass, politicians and journalists that "Egypt will stop the smuggling etc. because they want quiet in Gaza etc." illustrated a self imposed blindness necessitated by a compelling desire to make the facts fit their policy recommendations to retreat? What is transpiring on the ground certainly seems to fit an alternative interpretation: Egypt is interested in having Israel tied down in an ongoing low grade war of attrition.]

Margot Dudkevitch and JPost Staff

The Jerusalem Post

www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite? pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull& cid=1126578009090&p=1078027574097

Despite Israeli demands on Egypt and the Palestinian Authority to immediately take action and seal off the Gaza-Egypt border, Palestinians and Egyptians continued to freely cross the border on Wednesday morning.

Concerned over the chaotic situation in Gaza, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz warned Tuesday that failure to act immediately to restore law and order could have serious repercussions.

Mofaz also requested the intervention of US Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, sources in the Defense Ministry said.

Just hours after the IDF pullout from the Gaza Strip on Monday morning, thousands of Palestinians forced their way through the border crossing and rushed into Egypt. The crossing has since turned into an open passage, with thousands streaming across.

On Tuesday, unconfirmed media reports claimed weapons had changed hands and made it to the PA side.

In preparation for the handover of the Philadelphi corridor to Egyptian and PA security control, Israel shut down its headquarters at the crossing a week ago. The understanding was that once the PA received control of the Gaza Strip, it would assume the responsibility of monitoring the border with Egypt and act to prevent terror and weapons smuggling.

Ever since the army left Gaza, the situation has approached anarchy, strengthening Israeli fears that terror organizations will take advantage of the situation to restock their weapons' supplies and improve their capabilities.

"We view the situation as extremely serious and expect the PA and Egyptians to take immediate action and restore law and order," a source said. "If the situation remains unchecked, Israel will be forced to take steps." He declined to divulge further details.

The current situation will require Israel to tighten up security at the existing border crossings with Gaza and carry out stringent inspections on Palestinians passing through them. "We need to ensure that an al-Qaida operative who stole a PA identity card does not try to enter the area," a Defense Ministry official said.

Security officials admitted they were not surprised by the situation and had taken into account that such a scenario could unfold once the army moved out. Failure to restore law and order to Gaza will only prove that the PA has lost control of the situation, one official said.

Another cause for concern is the fact that the same PA policemen who are meant to enforce the law were spotted looting, setting fire to synagogues and joining in the massive destruction of buildings left in the settlements.

"There is an obvious power struggle between the PA and Hamas. Until now [PA Chairman] Mahmoud Abbas has failed to confront Hamas and demand it lay down its arms. Hamas perceives itself as being the only body in Gaza that has the capability of enforcing control," the official said.

Some officials believe that it is premature to draw conclusions and advise allowing several more days to pass before taking a stand. "Only one and a half days have passed since the pullout," one official said.

Another cause for concern is the possibility of terror escalating in the West Bank. Sources in the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said they cannot rule out the possibility that terror organizations will intensify their efforts to manufacture Kassam rockets and improve their capability, but doubted that they will be successful.

"Over the past years the Shin Bet and army have successfully thwarted a number of attempts by terrorists to manufacture rockets. However taking into account the current situation, once cannot rule out the possibility that terror organizations in the West Bank will try to manufacture Kassam rockets and other weapons usually only seen in Gaza," a source said.

Deputy Defense Minister Ze'ev Boim, however, believes that the terror will slowly dissipate, mainly due to international pressure. Speaking on Channel 1, he said Israel has explicitly informed the PA that the rules of the game have changed. Israel's warning is the best kind of deterrence to the PA which was informed that any artillery attacks will invite a harsh response, not necessary targeted killings, he said.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis